Williams scores national US title

TAMAR rower Steph Williams has added an American title to those she won in Australia.

The 19-year-old, who claimed national single scull titles at under-17 and under-19 level, won a scholarship to attend sports-mad Ohio State University and was in the eight which won the National Collegiate Athletic Association American championship at the weekend.

Rowing at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, the Ohio crew saw off some stiff competition from California, Washington and Virginia to maintain its 100 per cent record for the season and complete a successful program in which it also won the second eight and overall title.

Williams is originally from Devonport where she rowed for both St Brendans Shaw College and Mersey under coach Graham Scattergood, but trained and competed with Tamar under Stuart Sayer after moving to Launceston.

Williams, who was selected for the 2012 world juniors in Bulgaria, will also trial for a spot in the Australian under-23 team.

Rowing Australia is supportive of the US pathway and monitors athletes with a view to national selection.

Rowing Tasmania development manager Rob Prescott said there was further success for the state at the same regatta with Scottsdale's Peter Stone, who attended Hobart's Friends School and rowed with the Tasmanian University Boat Club, part of the University of California-Berkley eight that won the national division 3 title.

Tamar rower Steph Williams has won the National Collegiate Athletic Association American championship at the weekend.